Due to rainy weather in the area Cambridge played its third region game in as many nights on Friday, this time at North Atlanta HS. The Bears were sitting in a second place tie with Northview HS and needed the win to remain there. The bats exploded for 15 hits and the defense showed well in leading the way to a 10-7 victory.
North Atlanta drew first blood in the bottom of the first against Cambridge starter Michael Polk. Down 1-0, the Bears offense jumped to life in the top of the second. Ross Friedrick singled to lead off the frame but a double play emptied the bases. Not to be deterred, Justin Tanguay singled before Chase Durham got on by error. Senior Andrew Spears proceeded to launch a double to deep right, scoring two as Durham hustled to the plate all the way from first base.
North Atlanta answered with two of its own in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead at 3-2. Neither team threatened in the third. A Mitch Fleming walk and a Durham single once again set up Spears who delivered with a double down the left field line to tie the game. Durham then scored on a Connor Morris infield hit. Ryan Todd lofted a sac fly to right to drive in Spears and Morris later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-3 in favor of the visitors.
Kenny Rosenbloom entered the game for Polk and promptly put the home team down in order in the fourth. Cody Rech singled to lead of the fifth and scored on a Fleming single. Durham singled to left to drive in Fleming and the score was 8-3.
Another scoreless inning by Rosenbloom preceded another two-run inning in the sixth for the Bears. Rech walked and scored on a Fleming single. Tanguay then drove in Fleming with a single of his own and the score stood at 10-3. North Atlanta scored three in the sixth off of reliever Turner Rosenbaum and another in the seventh before Chris DiFelice came in to retire the final two batters and secure the 10-7 victory.
Polk went three innings to gain the win, allowing three runs on five hits with two strikeouts. Rosenbloom was outstanding in relief, going 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. DiFelice got the final two outs for his first career save.
The Cambridge offense had its best day of the season with 15 hits in 35 at bats. The bottom five hitters led the way with 13 hits in 19 at bats, led by Spears with four hits and three RBI and Morris with three hits. Fleming, Tanguay and Durham each had a pair of singles and a pair of runs scored, while Fleming also drove in a pair.
Cambridge steps out of region play on Saturday with a game versus Norcross HS at Coolray Stadium. Game time is 7 PM.
Go Bears!